State qualifiers

Mishawaka spellers headed to finals after finishing second in regionals.

Mishawaka spellers headed to finals after finishing second in regionals.

October 22, 2008|JIM MEENAN Tribune Staff Writer

After six rounds, Mishawaka trailed eight-time state champion Penn by just four words and had three perfect spellers to the KingsmenÂ?s four.

ThatÂ?s pretty good company to keep, even though the Kingsmen pulled away for an eight word win in the 10-round event.

Regardless, the Cavemen will be traveling to state, having spelled 79 words correctly Monday night at the area Spell Bowl competition at John Glenn High School in Walkerton.

Juanita Gerard, coach of the Cavemen, said Monday night she would be ecstatic if her club made it.

Â?We did our very best,Â? she said. Â?They did a great job.Â?

Â?We would just be so grateful if we could be (at state),Â? she said, well ahead of learning that they would make it after state qualifiers were announced Tuesday.

Â?The kids have a great time. They have a lot of fun. Going to state is the icing on the cake.Â?

Leading the way for Mishawaka were Lauren Fleenor, Kim Loughlin, Liza Milhander and Megan Thielking, who each recorded perfect 9s, while Jami Fredenburg, Anna Leniski and Kaytlyn Troyer each missed one.

Â?We work really hard as a team,Â? Fredenburg said, noting the teamÂ?s four hours of practice per week plus work at home on the words.

And they do have plenty of fun, she agreed.

Â?We are kind of like a big family,Â? said the senior. Â?We all joke around with each other. We all try to have as much fun with it as possible.Â?